Fatal Portage Twp. crash

January 8, 2013

PORTAGE TOWNSHIP - One person was killed in a two-vehicle car crash on Askel Road in Portage Township Monday night.

About 6:30 p.m., Rick VanAlstine, 52, of Pelkie, was driving east on Askel Road when he hit a deer that ran into the roadway. He lost control of the vehicle and skidded into the westbound lane, where he hit a vehicle driven by Gloria Karinen, 65, of Pelkie, the Michigan State Police Calumet Post said. Karinen was pronounced dead at the scene.